357: Rocky peak

*Thud!*

Shortly after both sides stopped their confrontation, more influential figures from other heavens began to arrive one after another.

During this time, Lin Yang also secretly observed the beings from the other heavens.

There were Rock Beings with bodies made of stone, Lightning Spirits with bodies formed from the power of thunder and lightning, and strange beings whose forms shifted constantly... The races of each heaven were quite different, each possessing their own unique characteristics.

"Since almost everyone has arrived, can we get down to business?"

After another moment, a figure shrouded in light spoke in a deep voice; this was an Immortal King from Chiming Heaven.

As soon as he finished speaking, many people around turned their gazes toward Qin Wuliang.

This was because, although this Nine Heavens Alliance Meeting was being held in Lingxiao Heaven, the initiators were actually those from Wuliang Heaven!

In the absence of the Great Venerable of Wuliang Heaven, it was clear that the Wuliang Heaven group was led by Qin Wuliang.

Naturally, he was the one who needed to clarify the purpose of this Nine Heavens Alliance Meeting!

Seeing the surrounding gazes on him, Qin Wuliang smiled with considerable poise and then gave a polite glance to Dao Venerable Taia above.

After seeing Dao Venerable Taia nod slightly, he slowly stood up, looked around, and then said thoughtfully, "I presume everyone gathered here today in Lingxiao Heaven is well aware of the Nirvana Saint Clan's recent invasion of Lingxiao Heaven's Lower Realm."

"But I wonder if you all know that while the Nirvana Saint Clan was invading Lingxiao Heaven, my Wuliang Heaven also fought a battle with the Black Demon God Clan?"

"The Black Demon God Clan!?"

Everyone was shocked to hear this; that was a super God Race ranked fourth among the Strange, also presided over by a Eerie Venerable Lords, and their overall strength was even greater than that of the Nirvana Saint Clan that had invaded Lingxiao Heaven.

Wuliang Heaven had actually fought a battle with the Black Demon God Clan not long ago?

"What was the result?"

Someone asked impatiently.

"It could be said... we were evenly matched."

Qin Wuliang said indifferently.

"Evenly matched!"

Another collective gasp rang out from the crowd upon hearing this.

That was a super God Race ranked fourth among the Hundred Eerie Clans, with unimaginably formidable strength. The fact that Wuliang Heaven could fight them to a standstill showed just how profound their foundation had become over the years.

The title of number one in the Nine Heavens was truly well-deserved!

"Hmph! It's just a pity that the Black Demon God Clan didn't dare to start the war within our Wuliang Heaven domain. Otherwise, several of their Immortal Kings would have surely fallen at the hands of my Senior Brother," Hua Wuyan huffed from the side.

"You repelled the Black Demon God Clan outside the realm!?"

Hua Wuyan's words caused the surrounding astonishment to intensify even further.

One must know that fighting Strange experts within one's own heaven is vastly different from fighting them outside!

Within one's own heaven, the world's rules instinctively reject and suppress Strange Creatures.

Furthermore, the Immortal Emperor-level experts of each heaven possess secret techniques to borrow the power of the world to bolster themselves.

With these advantages and disadvantages, the powerful Strange tribes would never dare to force their way into the Nine Heavens without absolute certainty!

This was why the previous Nirvana Saint Clan only invaded Lingxiao Heaven's Lower Realm, where the rules were incomplete, while avoiding the Upper Realm where the rules were intact.

"And even so!"

During the invasion, the Nirvana Saint Clan expended a massive amount of energy, continuously pouring out Strange Qi from the World Fissure and attempting to set up the Four Fiends Extinction Array to completely alter the rules of the Lower Realm.

Before the Four Fiends Extinction Array could completely change the Lower Realm's rules, the Nirvana Venerable Lord did not dare to enter in person, fearing that Dao Venerable Taia would find a weakness.

Unfortunately, in the end, to save the Vicious Beast King, Taotie, the Nirvana Venerable Lord still reached in with a hand.

For experts of that level, a single wrong move means losing the entire game.

Ultimately, the Nirvana Venerable Lord had to abandon the advantage he had built and withdrew the entire Nirvana Saint Clan from the Lower Realm, thus ending that war.

"But."

If the battlefield at that time had not been within Lingxiao Heaven but somewhere outside the realm without the interference of world rules, whether the Nirvana Saint Clan would have retreated is a different matter entirely.

After all, each of the top thirteen super tribes among the Hundred Eerie Clans possesses the ferocious strength to single-handedly contend with an entire heaven.

It is exceptionally difficult for any single heaven to resist them outside the realm.

Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, the beings of the Nine Heavens will not take the initiative to step out of their domains to clash with Strange experts.

That would be looking for trouble.

Yet, Wuliang Heaven did exactly that.

And from what Qin Wuliang and Hua Wuyan implied, the Black Demon God Clan didn't gain any advantage over Wuliang Heaven.

On the contrary, if the Black Demon God Clan had been a bit more reckless and charged into their domain to fight, they might have suffered heavy losses!

"Wuliang Heaven truly deserves to be called the number one of the Nine Heavens!"

After their initial shock, many people voiced their admiration, filled with heartfelt respect.

No one doubted what the two said; after all, for such a major event, no matter how far apart the Nine Heavens were, specific intelligence could be obtained if one looked for it, so it couldn't be faked.

Even the Immortal Kings of Lingxiao Heaven, such as Li Sanxuan, Ouyang Quan, and Liu Xue, were filled with emotion after hearing this.

Compared to Wuliang Heaven's brilliant military achievement, although their Lingxiao Heaven had also successfully repelled the Nirvana Saint Clan's invasion, they seemed to fall a bit short.

"You flatter us. The Nine Heavens are connected like branches of the same tree; the glory Wuliang Heaven has achieved is shared by the other eight heavens as well."

Facing the envious gazes from all around, Qin Wuliang gave a feigned modest smile, though he clearly relished the looks of admiration from the crowd.

"What glory? Calling it glory when the number one of the Nine Heavens only manages a draw against the fourth-ranked Strange tribe—what happens if the top three tribes come? Can the Nine Heavens still win?"

Just then, a deep voice rang out.

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone's heads, instantly cooling the heated atmosphere in the hall.

Many people looked toward the direction of the voice.

It was a very sturdily built being, with a body that looked like polished bluestones stacked into a humanoid shape. His skin was grayish-blue, making him look like a stone giant.

He was an Immortal King from Giant Rock Heaven and a very young Immortal King Giant of this era, second only to Qin Wuliang.

Within the Nine Heavens, he was known by the title of "Second Under Heaven."

Hearing his words, the surrounding voices gradually faded; clearly, the words of this young Immortal King from Giant Rock Heaven had served as a wake-up call for everyone.

What was there to be happy about when the number one of the Nine Heavens only tied with the fourth of the Strange?

They should be worried instead!

Because if the top three super-powerful tribes of the enemy were to take action, it was feared that not a single one of the Nine Heavens could stand up and resist.

Seeing the compliments vanish, Qin Wuliang's peripheral vision swept toward the direction of the Giant Rock Heaven's Immortal King, a flash of displeasure flickering deep in his eyes.

"I'm sharing my achievements; what does it have to do with you?"

"What a killjoy!"

However, toward that Immortal King from Giant Rock Heaven who had dampened everyone's spirits, a hint of appreciation appeared in Lin Yang's eyes.

"He's truly my spokesperson."

"A draw between the number one of the Nine Heavens and the fourth of the Strange is considered glory?"

"The standards of these Nine Heavens are far too low... Fellow Daoist, your words are very much to my liking. I am Lin Yang; may I ask how to address you?"

Lin Yang picked up the wine cup from the stone table in front of his seat, raised it toward the Immortal King from Giant Rock Heaven who had just spoken, and smiled.

Hearing Lin Yang's voice, the Giant Rock Heaven Immortal King, who looked like a stone giant, turned around, glanced at him, and also raised the wine in front of him, saying, "Yan Feng!"